Three Piece Shower Stalls

In today's economy, people will do almost anything to save money, including installing their own bathroom fixtures and units. Three piece shower stalls are common shower units seen in many bathrooms across Canada. These shower stalls consist of three plastic enclosures that surround a shower head or a bathtub. When installing three piece shower stalls, many people complain about removing the old unit. This is due to the fact that once the old unit is demolished, there is residual glue left on the wall, which does not come off easily. While this glue can be removed, it is a time-consuming process that involves chipping and scrapping. But as long as there is no existing rot or water damage behind the old unit, installing three piece shower stalls is relatively simple. Learn more about the basics of installing these shower stall units.

Trimming the Enclosures' Width

After the wall space is cleaned and allowed to dry, the actual installation can begin. The first step to installing three piece shower stalls is to trim the three plastic enclosures in order to fit to size. Once that is done, the parts can be glued into place; therein lies the challenge. Above all else, remember that the width measurement must be correct. If the measurement is too long, simply trim the extra length. Of course, the width can be slightly longer since one will need the enclosures to slightly overlap in order for the stall to appear seamless.

Trimming the Enclosures' Length

Although the width trimming process is not too difficult, the same cannot be said for the length trimming process when installing three piece shower stalls. This is because the bathtub or shower stall slopes, which means the bottom of the enclosures must fall in line with the unit's slope. If the length is not measured correctly, there will be gaps between the enclosures and the bathtub or shower, creating not only an eyesore but also a place for water to penetrate.

The top section of the enclosures is just as crucial as the bottom section because the bathtub or shower's slope will also dictate how the enclosures are trimmed. Although one will not have the same water seepage problem on the top as they will on the bottom if the measurements are incorrect, the pieces will still not match. However, mistakes made on the top section can be concealed by using shower trim.

Applying the Glue

The last topic to touch on in regards to three piece shower stalls is applying the glue. Regardless of the accompanying instructions, the installation will require more glue, which is surprisingly expensive. To err on the side of caution, purchase three extra tubes of glue than stated in the installation guide. Generally, the amount of glue needed will depend on the underlying surface's roughness. If one skimps on glue to save money, they run the risk of the shower stall coming apart at the corners. All in all, installing three piece shower stalls is not as difficult as one might think.